Things to do in Yamagata Prefecture

My first visit to Ginzan Onsen two years ago was met with a breathtaking blizzard. I was stunned by the beauty but also frozen by the temperature. Although I enjoyed the purest essence of Taisho Romance, the heavy snowfall prevented me from taking many photos, leaving me with only one picture and a lingering regret. This time, I decided to revisit with my camera to recapture those memories. Without the overwhelming snow and bustling crowds, I could better appreciate the retro charm of the place. I finally got to see the waterfall I missed last time, explore the mine I hadn't visited, and browse the small shops I couldn't properly explore before. Ginzan without the snow offered a different kind of serene elegance. This dream-fulfilling trip finally allowed me to make up for that beautiful regret from years ago. A special shout-out to the incredibly generous and delicious set lunch; I even thought it was extravagant. The plating was truly a work of art, and I thank the travel agency for their thoughtfulness.

The driver, who also served as our guide, was very attentive. He contacted us the night before to reconfirm the pick-up location. The nine-seater vehicle was comfortable and not crowded. We were fortunate to see Ginzan covered in heavy snowfall — truly a beautiful and worthwhile experience.

Our tour guide for the past two days was Tony, and he took very good care of us. He even gave us small gifts. It was very cold when we went to Ginzan Onsen, and he gave us heat packs. He also gave us heat packs and chocolate on the second day. When we couldn't enter the Fox Village, he found a way for us to go somewhere else. We went to Shiroishi Castle, which was very beautiful and worth a walk and taking some pictures. The driver was also very nice, drove very smoothly, and greeted everyone warmly when getting on and off the bus. We happened to encounter heavy snow when we went to Ginzan Onsen, which was very beautiful. On the second day, we went to the Zao Snow Monsters, and we were incredibly lucky! The weather was very clear. Although we couldn't ride the cable car to the very top because there were too many individual travelers, it was still very beautiful and worth it! I heard that the day before we went, Zao had a big snowstorm and the visibility was very poor, but the weather was clear blue skies today! So lucky~ We stayed at Kamesei Ryokan. The hotel looks very historical, but it's maintained quite cleanly. The rooms are also very large, and the breakfast is rich and delicious, with both traditional Japanese and Western breakfasts. Thank you to the tour guide and driver for their hard work these past two days! 👍

Today, I booked this tour program with Andy Shi as our guide. I felt very happy and had a great time. The guide was very kind, helpful, and attentive throughout the trip. Everything was really nice. Thank you so much for this wonderful experience!

Excellent and competent! The tour guide/driver led a very good and experienced small group, and reminded the group members the day before departure. At each location, there were clear instructions and introductions to the attractions, as well as maps and walking guides. This time we went to Yamadera Temple and there was snow, the scenery was very beautiful. The tour guide/driver also suggested that we go to Ginzan early to see the snow scene and specially adjusted the itinerary, and finally we went to Tendo to buy souvenirs and local products. The journey was very pleasant!

I personally think the overall experience was great however, The part i think need to be looked into is the time allowed for lunch break the highway stop is a little short. Other than that good job to the guide for the arrangement and hospitality.

The one-day shared tour was very convenient, and with a small group, we moved quickly. The driver was very kind and polite, and simple English communication was sufficient. The timing and pace of travel between attractions and free time were managed perfectly!

Today, I had a wonderful time on a day trip to Zao Fox Village in Sendai and Ginzan Onsen. The weather was beautiful and sunny, which made the entire journey even more enjoyable. At the fox village, I got to observe many adorable foxes up close; they roamed freely, truly allowing me to experience the charm of nature. Furthermore, the scenery at Ginzan Onsen was picturesque, with babbling brooks and magnificent surrounding mountains that uplifted my spirits. Soaking my ankles in the outdoor hot spring and enjoying the comfortable warmth helped me forget the stresses of daily life. Overall, this trip not only allowed me to get up close with foxes but also immersed me in the beautiful natural scenery, making it a truly unforgettable experience.

I booked 2D1N trip to Ginsen Onsen and Mouny Zao via Klook. travel with GogoDay and tour guide Tony Chiu. The driver and Tony are friendly and takes great care everyone. he tried his best to explain things and introduce the places in Chinese, Japanese and English. Also, he is so kind, prepared and provided some warm packs and Japanese sweets for us. Because our group have 50+ mixed with different countries travellers. thank you so much Tony. will strongly recommend this tour to friends and hope we can join your tour group next time!